Note pad holder



. July 2, 1957 c, CARNEY 2,797,935

NOTE PAD HOLDER Filed March 19, 1954 IN VEN TOR. cmezzs a 042M BY 2,797,935 Patented July 2, 1957 NGTE PAD HOLDER Charles E. Carney, J efierson, ()hio Application March 1?, 1954, Serial No. 417,395 6 Claims. (Cl. 281-44) This invention relates to holders for supporting pads of note paper and the like in position for use and to a holder of this nature especially suited for use in automobiles and other vehicles.

It frequently happens that the driver of an automobile, bus, or truck desires, and ofttimes is required, to make notes while in the vehicle, and drivers who encounter this situation more or less as a matter of routine generally fasten a note pad at some place within reach from the drivers seat. For example, it is common to secure a pad to the sun shield above the drivers seat, and also to hang a pad-supporting clipboard from the vehicle dashboard. However, pads kept at such places are not conveniently accessible and, moreover, must be removed and supported in some manner, for example against the steering wheel, in order to make entries or notes thereon.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a pad holder which may be readily fabricated of light and inexpensive material, such as ordinary tin plate, and, nonetheless, has sufiicient rigidity to support a pad against normal writing pressure with only a simple pedestal type mounting securing the holder to a supporting surface.

Another object is to provide such a holder of box-like construction adapted to support a pad on a face thereof and comprising means for removably mounting the holder on a planar surface with the pad-supporting face thereof at an angle relative to the surface such to facilitate writing on the pad.

A further object of the invention is to provide a note pad holder in the general form of a box having a single mounting column or pedestal with a suction device firmly attached to the latter, whereby the holder may be readily and removably secured to a convenient mounting surface, such as the top panel of an automobile dashboard. Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail c: ain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, h ever, of but a few of the various ways in which the pr: ciple of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved pad holder;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section as viewed from the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a slight modification.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the body of the holder illustrated is in the form of a rectangular box and is preferably made of thin gauge metal, such as tin plate. For expedience of manufacture, the bottom wall 10, side walls 11 and 12, and one end wall 13 are formed from a single piece of such material, cut and bent in a manner which will be obvious, with the edges at the two resulting corners suitably joined, for example by soldering.

The other end wall of the box is in the form of a lid 14 of slightly larger size than the end opening and having a wrapped upper edge portion 15 which serves as a hinge eye. Aligned openings are provided in the upper free corners of the side walls, and a hinge pin 16 is threaded through such openings and the lid portion 15, with the result that the lid may be swung outwardly from the bottom relative to the box, as indicated by the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. An inwardly directed flange 17 extends along the sides and bottom of the lid and its respective portions overlie the side and bottom walls of the box when the lid is closed.

Top wall 18, secured to the upper edges of the side walls 11 and 12 and the end wall 13, is one leg portion of a uniform strip of material bent back upon itself to form two leg portions of unequal extent in parallel, slightly spaced planes. As shown, top Wall 18 is the longer of such leg portions, and the other and shorter portion forms a partition 19 uniformly overlying and spaced slightly above the top wall. The bend or loop portion 20 of the strip projects beyond end wall 13 and is enlarged somewhat to a generally cylindrical section.

In the construction shown, particularly in Fig. 3, the upper edges of the side Walls are turned inwardly a short distance, and the thickness of these in-turned portions serves to space the top wall and partition. However, since this space is intended to receive the backing, usually of cardboard, of a pad of note paper and the like, it is of fairly small height and the spacing could be provided by solder used to join the top and side walls of the box. This latter form of attachment is shown in Fig. 4, the solder being indicated at S.

The partition 19 extends over a major portion of the length of the top wall and serves to support the sheets of a paper pad. As already mentioned, and as indicated by the dotted representation P of a pad in Fig. 2, the cardboard back of the pad is inserted between top wall 13 and the partition 39 with the sheets overlying the latter. The fit should be fairly snug and the free end of the partition engaged substantially with the pad binding so that the pad will not move appreciably when used.

Loop portion 29 may be utilized to support a pencil 21 inserted axially therein, and a chain or head construction may be provided to fasten the pencil to the holder. Thus, the pencil shown has a clip 22 thereon and a light chain 23 connects this clip to a further clip 24 suitably secured to side Wall 11 of the holder.

It will be apparent that while the body of the holder thus far described is made of relatively thin gauge material, it has the rigidity inherent in a box construction and, therefore, is capable of being supported by a pedestal or column, as contrasted to a backing or support over substantially the entire area of the holder. The use of a box construction not noly simplifies mounting of the holder, but the box itself also provides a storage space for filler pads, pencils and other articles, access being had to the interior of the box by opening of the lid 14.

The mounting member used in the illustrated holder comprises a hollow column or pedestal 25 which has an outwardly directed flange 26 at its upper end to provide additional engagement with the bottom wall 10 to which it is attached. A rubber suction cup 27 is firmly secured to the lower end of the pedestal by crimping the edge of the latter on the attaching portion of the cup. In order to facilitate writing on a pad supported by the holder in the manner described, the holder is inclined relative to the mounting plate of the suction cup with the lid end elevated. This is accomplished by having the plane of the pedestal engagement with the bottom wall and the suction device mounting plane at an angle,

. 3 as shown, such that the pedestal 25 extends away from the lid end of the box. The suction cup, of course, permits the holder to be readily mounted on the top panel of an automobile dashboard within easy reach of the driver, or on any other convenient supporting surface where it is desired to use the holder.

Since the lid 14 is at the elevated end of the holder and hingedly connected at its upper edge, it will normally be in closed position due to the influence of gravity. It is not necessary, therefore, to provide any catch or the like to keep the lid closed, and, once opened, it will swing closed when released. I

The ease with which my holder may be used in an automobile or other vehicle will be apparent from the foregoing discussion, but it may be noted that a pad supported thereby can be used in place, that is, without being moved from, or with, the holder. The advantages, of course, obtain wherever the holder may be employed, and though intended primarily for vehicles, it will be appreciated that the scope of use is not thus confined.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A note pad holder for automobiles and the like comprising a generally rectangular box one end wall of which is formed separately as a lid hingedly connected at its upper edge so that it may be swung outwardly from the bottom to provide access to the box interior, the bottom and sides of such lid being flanged inwardly with the respective flange portions thereof adapted to overlie externally the bottom and side walls of the box when the lid is closed, a partition secured to and spaced slightly above the box top wall to define therewith a space for receiving the backing of a pad of note paper and the like, said partition being formed from a continuous extension of the top wall which extends beyond the end of the box opposed to such lid and then back over such wall, the connecting portion between said partition and top wall being of generally cylindrical section to permit insertion and support of a pencil therein, a support pedestal attached to the bottom wall of the box and extending therefrom at an angle longitudinally away from the lid end, thereby to support the box in inclined condition with the lid end elevated, and a suction device at the free end of said pedestal for removably securing the box to a supporting surface.

2. A note pad holder for autom'obiles and the like comprising a generally rectangular box one end wall of which is formed separately as a lid hingedly connected at its upper edge so that it may be swung outwardly from the bottom to provide access to the box interior, a partition secured to and spaced slightly above the box top wall to define therewith a space for receiving the backing of a pad of note paper and the like, said partition being formed from a continuous extension of the top wall which extends beyond the end of the box opposed to such lid and then back over such wall, the connecting portion between said partition and top wall being of generally cylindrical section to permit insertion and support of a pencil therein, a support pedestal attached to the bottom wall of the box and extending therefrom at an angle longitudinally away from the lid end, thereby to support the box in inclined condition with the lid end elevated, and a suction device at the free end of said pedestal for removably securing the box to a supporting surface.

3. A note pad holder for automobiles and the like comprising a generally rectangular box one end wall 'of which is formed separately as a lid hingedly connected at its upper edge so that it may be swung outwardly from the bottom to provide access to the box interior, a partition secured to and spaced slightly above the box top wall to define therewith a space for receiving the backing of a pad of note paper and the like, said partition being formed from a continuous extension of the top wall which extends beyond the end of the box opposed to such lid and then back over such wall, the connecting portion between said partition and top wall being of generally cylindrical section to permit insertion and support of a pencil therein, and support means firmly attached to said box for removably mounting the same on a generally planar supporting surface at an angle relative to such surface and with the lid end of the box elevated.

4. A note pad holder for automobiles and the like comprising a generally rectangular box having a side wall formed separately as a lid hingedly connected so that it may be swung open to provide access to the box interior, a single piece of material forming the top wall of said box and a partition spaced slightly thereabove with the portion of the material between the two being looped beyond a side wall of the box, the partition and top wall defining a space for reception of the backing of a pad of note paper and the like and such looped portion being adapted to support a pencil inserted therein.

5. A note pad holder comprising a generally rectangular box having top and bottom walls, an upper end wall, a lower end wall, and side walls, said upper end wall being formed separately and connected as a hinged lid to provide access to the box interior, a partition of approximately the same width as said top wall arranged in spaced relation above the same and secured thereto in registry along both sides, said partition forming with the top wall a space for reception of the backing of a pad of note paper and the like and extending over a major portion 'of the length of the top wall, and a suction device secured to the bottom wall for supporting the box, said suction device being so constructed and arranged as to mount the box in an inclined condition with the upper end wall thereof elevated.

6. A note pad holder comprising a generally rectangular b'ox having top and bottom walls, a partition spaced slightly above said wall and defining therewith a space for reception of the backing of a pad of note paper and the like, said partition and top wall being formed of a single piece "of material of substantially uniform width bent back upon itself, the partition being secured to the top wall at both sides and extending over a major portion of the length of the top wall, and a suction device attached to the bottom wall for removably securing the box to a supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,808 Raschick Aug. 6, 1929 1,815,024 Foster July 14, 1931 2,085,259 Gunning June 29, 1937 2,193,991 Treacy Mar. 19, 1940 2,678,833 LOeb May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 651,917 France Oct. 16, 1928 

